# NTSB WPR11CA467: Robinson R22 Beta, N3070S, Douglas, WY, September 24, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 24, 2011, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Douglas, WY
- Coordinates: 42.796943, -105.385833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7969&lon=-105.3858&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 1, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81897
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA467
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81897/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81897
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA467

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain yaw control of the helicopter while hover taxiing in gusty wind conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 85 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, while hover taxiing downwind, a gust of wind pushed the tail 90 degrees to the left, which forced the helicopter to descend into the pavement. The pilot reported that the front and rear crossover tubes between the left and right landing skid assemblies were bent, and that the tail cone was wrinkled at the fuselage attach points.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, while hover taxiing downwind, a gust of wind pushed the tail 90 degrees to the left, which forced the helicopter to descend into the pavement. The pilot reported that the front and rear crossover tubes between the left and right landing skid assemblies were bent, and that the tail cone was wrinkled at the fuselage attach points.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3070S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3070S), registered now, S/N 4217, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON R22 Beta (BETA)
- Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 4217
- Airframe hours: 1031
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James P Hoeffler
- Registered owner: James P Hoeffler
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 2011, 40 hours before
- Departed: SHR, Sheridan, WY
- Destination: DGW, Douglas, WY
- Airport: DGW, Douglas Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 901 total, 163 in this make and model, 636 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: DGW

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20110924023609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110924023609A), Sep 24, 2011: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Douglas, WY, Substantial damage. On September 24 2011, at approximately 1600 hrs MDT, N3070S, a Robinson model R-22 beta ii helicopter sustained substantial damage upon impact with the airport…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81897. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Data (item 2, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356236&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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